7/22 Eggplant Rustica with Italian Salsa
Happy Meatless Monday.
Our first eggplant of the season have arrived amidst a handful of scorching hot days and buckets of rain. Everything has grown rainforest style. At the end of May we planted two little Japanese Eggplant seedlings in big orange buckets. 
We gave them room to grow and hoped for the best. They have outdone themselves.
In honor of eggplant season and my love of this recipe, I would like to share it with you again. This is our go-to recipe for eggplant. You can enjoy these buttery medallions with or without the salsa. This dish is sure to turn your Meatless Monday into Magnificent Monday.
Eggplant Rustica with Italian Salsa
By: S. Boulton & S. Duquet
Italian Salsa Ingredients
1/2 C fresh Basil cut in chiffonade style
2 Small Green Zebra tomatoes seeded and chopped
4 Tiny Heirloom tomatoes (cherry or grape size) chopped
1/4 C beautiful quality balsamic vinegar *Does not need to be expensive…just really tasty by itself.
Make It Happen
~put all ingredients in bowl and toss gently to coat.
~Let marinate for 20 minutes before serving
Eggplant, prepared Sandy style
Ingredients
2 cups thinly sliced eggplant, cut into medallions (we prefer Japanese, but small eggplant or larger ones work as well)
3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
spray oil
Make it Happen
Mist the eggplant medallions front and back with spray oil. Only do a couple at a time, because the oil soaks in quickly and you need it to stick to the crumbs. Dust the medallions front and back in breadcrumbs. Heat a large skillet and spray it with oil, or brush it with olive oil if you prefer. Saute the eggplant medallions front and back until golden brown. Usually about 4 minutes each side.
Top with your fresh Italian salsa and devour the fruits of your labor. It is like tasting the sunshine from the sky. It is a bite of Summer at its very best and a tasty way to enjoy a meatless meal.
Have a delicious day.
Tags: compassionate eating, eggplant recipe, Eggplant Rustica with Italian Salsa, Meatless Monday, Meatless monday appetizer, Meatless Monday recipe, plant based diet, summer recipe, vegan appetizer, vegan wannabe
